An announcement proclaiming the passing of rapper and influencer Lil Tay was removed from her verified Instagram account on Thursday, prompting skepticism about the authenticity of the initial death announcement.TMZ also conveyed that Lil Tay’s family shared a statement with the outlet, asserting that her Instagram account “was compromised by a 3rd party and used to spread jarring misinformation and rumors regarding me.”
ABC News has not independently verified this report. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, declined to comment on whether the account’s owner had reported a hacking incident.Efforts to contact Lil Tay, her mother Angela Tian, and her brother Jason Tian have proven unsuccessful.Per TMZ, Lil Tay expressed, “I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive, but I’m completely heartbroken, and struggling to even find the right words to say. It’s been a very traumatizing 24 hours. All day yesterday, I was bombarded with endless heartbreaking and tearful phone calls from loved ones all while trying to sort out this mess.”
Doubts regarding the credibility of the Instagram post intensified on Wednesday after the teenager’s father, Chris Hope, declined to comment on reports of his daughter’s and son’s demise when questioned by ABC News.Lil Tay first gained nationwide attention at the age of 9 for her contentious videos, where she flaunted a lavish lifestyle.The Wednesday post referred to Lil Tay as “Claire.””With heavy hearts, we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire’s sudden and tragic passing. We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain,” the Wednesday Instagram statement conveyed. The post caught attention for also asserting that Lil Tay’s brother, Jason Tian, had passed away, and both deaths were undergoing investigation. Although the post did not specify the time and place of their deaths, Lil Tay is originally from Canada and moved to Los Angeles in 2018 to pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry.”Her brother’s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief,” the Wednesday statement continued. “During this time of immense sorrow, we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve this overwhelming loss, as the circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother’s passing are still under investigation. Claire will forever remain in our hearts, her absence leaving an indescribable void that will be felt by all who knew and loved her.”